Dredging apparatus



Sept. 15, 1964 K. M. JONES DREDGING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 7, 1962 lllllllii iflz 1 INVENTOR KENNETH M. JONES BY W 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1962 INVENTOFI KENNETH M. JONES BY W W ATTORN 'P 15, 1964 K. M. JONES 3,148,464

DREDGING APPARATUS Filed June 7; 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.?

M INVENTOR KENNETH M.JONES ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,148,4fi4 DREDGWG APPARATUS Kenneth ll/l. dones, P1). Box 4-5, West Tishury, Mass. Filed June 7, 1962, Ser. No. 280,872 4 Claims. {CL 3767) This invention relates generally to dredging apparatus and in particular to an improved type of a hydraulic dredge for use in removing silt from barbors, mining operations and having the further capability of transferring large quantities of water from one area to another.

Dredging operations in the past normally have required the use of large and cumbersome equipment which is difiicult to transport, assemble and is complicated in operation. In particular, where it becomes necessary to dredge out an inland lake which heretofore has not been navigable the operation has been prohibitively expensive, requiring a large number of personnel and involves preparations in transporting the equipment to the area so that it becomes extremely time consuming. Furthermore, in any type of dredging operation where large quantities of foreign matter are entrained with the liquid being shifted to another area erosion of the pump by impingement of the foreign matter thereon results in the extremely short life of the equipment requiring expensive replacements and repairs to the dredging mechanism. Also, difficulties have been encountered in the past with clogging of the intake setcion of the dredge due to the blind characteristics of the operation so that it becomes necessary from time to time to secure the dredge to free the cutting head and intake portion of the dredging mechanism from large objects which are normally present on lake and ocean bottoms.

The object of this invention is to provide a low pressure, high volume, dredging apparatus which is capable of displacing large quantities of liquids containing entrained solids.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dredging apparatus in which the operational head has a nonclogging, self-cleaning construction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dredging apparatus having a relatively long life due to its structural characteristics which minimize erosion.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel, useful and practical dredging apparatus whereby problems now present in the field are effectively and simply solved.

Other objects of this invention, will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

Broadly stated the feature of this invention is to provide a hydraulic dredging apparatus having a propeller/ impeller type of pumping head to be driven by a selfenclosed submersible type electric motor or by shafting extended from an externally positioned power supply so that liquids having solid particles entrained therewith can be directed into the vortex of the operational head and are conveyed outwardly against the divergent sides of a cone shaped housing. In this manner the lateral pressure exerted against the side walls of the cone shaped housing is reduced with a concomitant increase in the am'al fiow component of the liquid with respect to the axis of the housing. The spiraling water is then directed through a cone shaped member having converging side walls where fins further reduce the spiraling action of the material and thereby further increasing the axial flow component. By utilizing this type of construction there are no abrupt changes in direction of the liquid being pumped which consequently reduces the amount of erosion within the dredging head. The conversion of the liquid flow from rotary to axial is done in a general expanding manner so that the flow of liquid is stabilized so that the 3,148,464 Patented Sept. 15., 1964 spiral effect is ultimately reduced to a minimum and the over-all efiiciency maintained To the accomplishment of this and the foregoing related ends, the present invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principal of the invention may be employed.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation partly in section of the operational head of this invention;

F IG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation partly broken away of a modified form of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a view in front elevation partly in section of the operational head of the modified form of the invention as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective illustrating the direc tional controls for the operational head; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two diflerent supporting systems wherein the intake and discharge sections of the redge are fiotationally suspended.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment of the dredging apparatus, a construction made in accordance with the present invention and designated by the reference numeral 10 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown the operational head 12 which comprises an outer hollow cone shaped body 14 having convergent side walls 16 which extend from a flange 18. Longitudinally extending downwardly from the flanges 18 and coupled thereto by bolts (not shown) is a blade shroud 20 which defines an extension of the cone 14. The blade shroud 20 has a bend 21 midway between the free ends 22 and its junction with the flanges 18 defining convergent walls so that the free ends 22 are laterally spaced from each other defining a relatively restricted circular opening 24.

Concentrically mounted within the interior of the cone 14 is a cone shaped housing 26 having a similar configuration to the interior walls 23 of the cone 14 and secured thereto by support brackets 31. Extending radially outward from the cone shaped housing 26 are a plurality of rigid stabilizer fins 30 which extend longitudinally for greater than three quarters of the length of the cone shaped housing 26. The fins 39 extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the cone shaped housing 26 in such a manner as to be in abutting relationship with the interior surface 28 of the cone 14. Pins 30 in section D follow a slow spiral in the direction of the converging side walls 28 of the outer cone shaped body 14 with the brackets 31 bolted solidly to the interior wall 28. The circumferential distance between each of the lateral faces of the rigid fins 30 defines an annular channel 36 for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter.

Axially mounted within the cone shaped housing 26 and extending downwardly therefrom is a shaft member 38 having a hub member 46 secured thereto so as to be spaced from the end 42 of cone shaped housing 26. The shaft member 38 is adapted for free rotation by means of suitable bearings and seals (not shown) positioned within the cone shaped housing 26 and adapted to be driven by a prime mover such as an electric motor located within the housing 26. The hub member 49 is cone shaped having its widest dimension approximating the diameter of the cone shaped housing at its end 42 and tapering to a narrow dimension which is positioned within the circular opening 24 of the blade shroud 20.

A series of arcuate blades 44 extend radially outward from the exterior surface 46 of the hub member 48 having a leading edge 48 and a trailing edge 50 defining a plurality of propeller blades. Each of the arcuate blades 44 have cars 52 on the free lateral edges 54 which taper from the leading edge 48 toward the trailing edge 50 so as to define portions of a segment. Each of these ears 52 extend substantially normally to the plane of the arcuate blades 44.

The operation of this type of a head 12 in a dredging apparatus is best described by dividing the area of the head into various operational zones, A, B, C, and D as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. a self-contained barge 72 having a suitable gantry 58 enables the operating head 12 to be lowered into position on the floor 57 of a subterranean surface by means of cable 60 and maintained in a lateral position by anchor lines 61 so that the intake end of the pipe 62 can convey silt, water and other debris through a discharge line 66 for transfer to another area.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is illustrated one method of utilizing this new and improved dredging apparatus in a large scale operation. A tug boat 56 is adapted to lower the operational head 12 to the floor of ba subterranean surface 57 by means of control cable 60. The intake orsuction line 62 when used to convey silt entrained liquids a relatively long distance may be supported by floatation chambers 64 which are disposed at spaced intervals. The discharge line 66 may also be supported by floatation chambers 64, however, additional work barges 68 and 69 are anchored or moored by. lines 71 at points above and adjacent to the discharge line to aid in controlling and maneuvering the deposits of silt to a secondary area. Additional booster heads 7% similar in design to the basic form 12 may be positioned in the intake and discharge lines where necessary to give additional impetus to the flow. The main use of this type of an operation is to move large quantities of material and deposit it only to the height of the water, such as building up the subterranean level as in the formation of a break water foundation. It also could be used to completely dry up an enclosed body of water such as a lake or pond or to convey water from a source for purposes of irrigation.

After the operational head 12 has been lowered into position against the fioor 57 of a subterranean area the prime mover (not shown) which is contained within the cone shaped housing 26 is energized by electrical energy supplied from an outside source so that the shaft member 38 rotates and imparts a motion to the hub member 40. The leading edges 48 rotate with the hub member 40 to slice into the subterranean surface and due to the particular configuration of the arcuate blades 44 cause the material cut by the leading edge 48 to be drawn upwardly against the concave surface 77 of each of the arcuate blades 44 and impart a rotary motion thereto. In most cases an external agitator would be necessary to rip up hard packed bottom material, the housing would not let the blades get enough material to satisfy the volume of the pump. The ears 52 which extend substantially normal to the free lateral edges of the arcuate blades44 prevent, to some extent, the material from being thrown outwardly due to centrifugal force and allows it to move upwardly into zone A within the blade shroud 20. Any solid matter which is of a greater dimension than the clearance between the free lateral edges 54 of the arcuate blades 44 and the distance between the free ends 22 of the blade shroud will force the material outward due to the wide lateral surface presented by the cars 52 and prevent its entrance up into zone B. The ears 52 acting in conjunction with the walls of the shroud '20 act as a non-clogging, self-cleaning strainer. The material which is allowed to enter the opening 24 is thus entrapped by the faces of the arcuate blade members 44 and forced upwardly into zone B which acts as an expansion zone to reduce the lateral pressure exerted on the interior walls of the blade shroud 20 with a concomitant increase in the axial fiow component. The back pressure exerted on this entrained aqueous material by the continual action of the arcuate blades causes the aqueous material which is passing upwardly in zone B to pass further into zone C. Zone C acts as a stabilization zone between the cone shaped housing 26 and the upper portion of the blade shroud 20. The spiraling water which is contained within zone C is channeled upwardly into zone D where it is deflected by stabilization fins 36 to reduce the spiraling motion of the water and force the water upwardly through the annular channels 36 which exist between the stabilization fins 30. This aids in converting the spiral motion into an axial motion and moves the liquid upwardly through the operational head 12. The upper portion of zone D consists of the converging side walls 16 which join the discharge line and by their configuration convert the velocity of the moving aqueous matter into a pressure stage to further aid in the conveyance of the aqueously entrapped material through the discharge pipe to a second area.

In this propeller type of a pump operation, the liquid being pumped does not change directions abruptly as heretofore known. Consequently the liquid follows a gentle spiraling and expanding course in zones A and B, the spiraling action is slightly retarded as it approaches the zone C and is almost stopped completely as it passes upwardly through zone D and consequently out through the reduced cross-sectional area of the upper portion of the operational head 12. This type of a flow reduces the metal erosion of the working surface of the operational head and results in longer periods of operation before defects, due to metal erosion which is normally present in heretofore known dredging operations, are encountered. It is also easier to replace worn parts due to their being constructed of lightweight and consequently they are less expensive.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a modification of this invention representing a different form of a prime mover and consists of a floatation chamber 64' containing an internal combustion engine 74'. The drive 76' of the internal combustion engine is connected to a bevel gear 78' which in turn is in meshed relationship with a bevel gear 80' connected to the end of longitudinally extending shaft 82' which has the opposite end connected to the rotational hub 40 containing the blades 44. The operational head 12' substantially comprises a cone 14 having converging side walls 16. The cone 14 is of the unitary construction with one end 17 defining an outlet and the opposite end 19' having converging side walls 21' with the free ends 22' spaced from each other defining a circular opening 24'. The drive shaft 82' passes downwardly through the interior of cone 14' and is supported by axially spaced bearings 84' and 86' which are secured to the interior walls of a sleeve member 88 defining a drive shaft housing extending through the cone 14'. The sleeve member 88 is made watertight to prevent contact with the silt entrained liquid by a seal 90' which is positioned at the terminal end 92' thereof and where the sleeve passes through the end 42' of an inner cone shaped housing 26.

One of the major distinctions between the basic form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the modified form is the length of the stabilization fins 30. In the modified form one fin extends the entire length of the cone shaped housing and along the drive shaft sleeve to a point where it leaves the discharge end of the pump between the interior walls 16 of the cone 14' and the sleeve member 88' to prevent clogging.

Connected to the drive shaft 82' at the opposite end from the bevel gear 81) and free to rotate therewith is a hub member 40'. The hub member 40' is cone shaped and has its largest dimension adjacent to but spaced from the end 42' of the cone shaped housing 26'. The ex- 2') terior configuration of the arcuate blades 44 which extend radially outward from the surface of the hub member 46 is similar to and performs the same function as the basic form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In operation the modified form of the device allows the power generated by the internal combustion engine 78 to be transmitted to the drive shaft 82 through the bevel gears 7 8 and 8% to impart a rotational force to the hub member 49'. The arcuate blade members 44 ct as ro tary cutters to effect a rotary motion to the silt and water and draw it axially inward and centrifugally outward where it is directed by the converging side walls of the end 19' into air axial flow through the core 14.

By utilizing this improved dredging apparatus large quantities of water, silt and the like can be efiectively removed from a subterranean floor and discharged to a secondary area. Furthermore the life of the components is extended by the minimizing of the erosive tendencies of materials being worked because of the unique structural characteristics.

Another important point relating to the configuration of the blade shroud 20 in relation to the location of the blades 44 and ears 52 should be taken into account. Since the action of the leading edges 48 and blades 44 on the liquid and the heavy particles entrained in it is both rotary and axially, the heavy particles tend to spray radially slightly more since they are heavier than the liquid. When they do this, if they are the right size they strike the ears 52 and their outward acceleration is converted into an upward accleration leading them into the expanding conical chamber formed by [the shroud 20. If the particles are too large, the ears 52 serve to reject them. In addition, when the swirling liquid with particles entrained reaches area B in the chamber the heavier entrained particles are projected radially by centrifugal force and when they strike the sloping surf-ace of the shroud 20 they are additionally deflected axially along the housing. This greatly helps the liquid start the heavy particles moving in the right direction and once they are moving it is not so difiicult to keep them flowing. Thereafter when the housing narrows, since the centrifugal action would deter the progress of the heavy particles, 1 reduce it, or substantially eliminate it, by means of the fins 30.

Since other obvious modifications may be made in this dredging apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A dredging apparatus comprising a wall member having an intermediate circular section terminating in an upper and a lower truncated conically shaped section, a housing concentrically located within said intermediate and upper sections, arcuate iins extending radially outward from said housing defining a plurality of longitudinal channels therebetween, drive shaft means extending from said housing having a hub member secured thereto, said hub member disposed between the converging walls of said lower section, blade members having a lateral edge secured to said hub member, and means on the free lateral edges of said blade extending normal to the face thereof, said means each defining a segment tapering from the tip of the blade and merging with the free lateral edge at its midpoint, whereby rotation of said hub allows cooperation of said segment with the converging walls of said lower section to provide a self-cleaning and restricted intake area.

2. A dredge mechanism comprising: a hollow memher with an inlet and an outlet having converging side walls; a housing positioned Within said hollow member having stabilization fins on the exterior thereof, said fins defining longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced channels; a hub member axially spaced from said housing and concentrically disposed between the converging walls of said inlet having a plurality of arcu-ate blades extending radially outward therefrom between said converging inlet walls, said arcuate blades having segments extending normal to the free lateral edges thereof and extending in proximate relationship to the converging inlet walls of the hollow member; and means for rotating said hub member whereby material is centrifugally and axially directed through said inlet and along said channels.

3. A dredging apparatus comprising: a wall member having an intermediate circular section terminating in an upper and a lower truncated conically shaped section; a housing concentrically located within said intermediate and upper sections; arcuate fins extending radially outward from said housing defining a plurality of longitudinal channels therebetween; a hub member disposed between the converging walls of said lower section and connected to said housing by a rotatable drive shaft, said hub member having a plurality of arcuate blades extending outward therefrom between said lower section converging walls; and means on the free edges of said blades extending normally thereto and in proximate relationship to the converging walls of said lower section whereby the rotation of said hub member will present a restricted intake area.

4. Apparatus for transporting heavy particles entrained in a liquid comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet having converging side walls forming an expanding conical chamber; a rotor in said inlet having mounted thereon a plurality of arcuate blades projecting outwardly therefrom with at least a portion of each of said blades extending outwardly of said inlet; means for rotating said rotor whereby said particles and liquid are projected both axially along said housing and radially against the outwardly sloping surface of said conical chamber by centrifugal force and thereby are deflected additionally axially of said housing; means in said ho ing for interrupting and reducing the rotary motion of said liquid and entrained particles without obstructing said axial flow, whereby said centrifugal force is substantially eliminated when said particles have passed out of said expanding conical chamber; and a particle deflecting ear on each of said blades extending normal to the face of said blade along the outwardly extending edge thereof, each of said ears defining a segment tapering from the tip of said blade and merging with the edge thereof at a point where said blade edge enters said inlet whereby said ears selectively derlect particles smaller than a predetermined size in a direction inwardly of said chamber prior to their entrance to said inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED STATES PATENTS 196,565 Dennison Oct. 30, 1877 341,539 Angeli May 11, 1886 619,675 Cram Feb. 14, 1899 1,087,269 Baltz Feb. 17, 1914 1,316,349 Calder Sept. 16, 1919 2,400,882 Kalix May 28, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,429 Great Britain of 1868 257,111 Great Britain of 1926 37,509 Norway of 1919 

1. A DREDGING APPARATUS COMPRISING A WALL MEMBER HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE CIRCULAR SECTION TERMINATING IN AN UPPER AND A LOWER TRUNCATED CONICALLY SHAPED SECTION, A HOUSING CONCENTRICALLY LOCATED WITHIN SAID INTERMEDIATE AND UPPER SECTIONS, ARCUATE FINS EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM SAID HOUSING DEFINING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL CHANNELS THEREBETWEEN, DRIVE SHAFT MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING HAVING A HUB MEMBER SECURED THERETO, SAID HUB MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN THE CONVERGING WALLS OF SAID LOWER SECTION, BLADE MEMBERS HAVING A LATERAL EDGE SECURED TO SAID HUB MEMBER, AND MEANS ON THE FREE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID BLADE EXTENDING NORMAL TO THE FACE THEREOF, SAID MEANS EACH DEFINING A SEGMENT TAPERING FROM THE TIP OF THE BLADE AND MERGING WITH THE FREE LATERAL EDGE AT ITS MIDPOINT, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID HUB ALLOWS COOPERATION OF SAID SEGMENT WITH THE CONVERGING WALLS OF SAID LOWER SECTION TO PROVIDE A SELF-CLEANING AND RESTRICTED INTAKE AREA. 